Recipe Sifter

Vegetarian shao mai dumplings with hand-rolled hot-water dough and two filling options: mashed tofu or minced water chestnut and mushroom. Bamboo steamer classic, freezer-friendly.

Saussarelle d'escargots with snails in red wine, tomato, and espagnole sauce finished with brandy and fennel, served in artichoke bottoms. A refined French appetizer.

Low-fat mushroom barley soup made with dried mushrooms, pearl barley, fat-free chicken broth, potatoes, and carrots. Finished with a swirl of nonfat sour cream and a pinch of dill. Earthy, hearty, and lighter than the diner version.

Mexican escabeche oysters pickled in vinegar with garlic, carrots, cauliflower, and herbs. Briefly cooked then marinated overnight for a tangy, briny cold appetizer with lime and jalapeno.

Quinoa tabbouleh swaps bulgur for pressure-cooked quinoa, packed with finely minced parsley, celery, carrots, and scallions in a lemon-mustard-mint vinaigrette. Gluten-free, protein-rich, and make-ahead friendly.

Hearty cure-all chicken noodle soup simmered 3 hours with a whole chicken, turkey wing, root vegetables, and garlic. The pureed veggies melt into a rich, silky broth that heals what ails you.

Crystal-clear salmon consomme with poached prawns, salmon flakes, carrot flowers, and a splash of sherry. Classic raft-clarified technique for an elegant first course.

Vegan sweet and sour soybeans, a high-protein stir-fry of crisp-tender carrots, peppers and pineapple in a glossy brown-sugar and vinegar sauce. A meatless spin on the takeout favorite.

Light pasta primavera with sea scallops, broccoli, mushrooms, and carrots in a broth-based sauce. No cream, no butter, just clean flavors and tender scallops.

Layered vegetable salad with warm spicy peanut dressing made from coconut milk, peanut butter, and sweet soy sauce. Blanched potatoes, cauliflower, green beans, cabbage, and raw jicama.

Hearty winter borscht-style soup loaded with pearl barley, lima beans, split peas, lentils, mushrooms, turnips, and carrots in a savory miso-tamari broth. A meat-free, slow-simmered vegan one-pot.

Mom's beef stew braised in red wine and tomato sauce with white wine vinegar, oregano, potatoes, and carrots. Low and slow comfort food for six.

Beef stew with root vegetables braised slow in red wine until the meat falls apart, then finished with a bright lemon, rosemary, and garlic gremolata. A hearty winter one-pot.

Split pea soup with potato and sausage, a hearty slow cooker soup simmered with a meaty ham bone, smoked sausage, and vegetables until thick and creamy. A cozy, set-it-and-forget-it cold-weather meal.

Homemade chipotle sauce with rehydrated dried chipotles, bacon, tomatoes, beef stock, and fresh cilantro. A smoky, spicy Mexican sauce with customizable heat level.

Slow cooker whole chicken poached with aromatics for 7-9 hours, served with a classic French-style cream sauce made from the cooking stock. A crockpot set-it-and-forget-it dinner.